During its meeting on Friday, September 27, in Dubrovnik (Croatia) the FIA World Motor Sport Council validated the decisions taken by the FIA Endurance Commission during its meeting on 23rd August. Here are the main elements:
 
LM P prototypes

• In order to increase competitiveness, from 2014 the title of FIA World Endurance Manufacturers’ Champion will be awarded to the manufacturer scoring the greatest number of points with two cars and not one as is currently the case. Should a third car be entered it will not to eligible to score points in the manufacturers’ championship in which the points will be awarded to the two highest-placed cars. However, the drivers of the third car can score points in their own classification.

• The 2014 sporting regulations will be adjusted in the LM P1 category to take into consideration the new technical regulations, which will be implemented next season. In addition, in order to define the two types of engines taking into consideration the new distinction between non-hybrid cars (reserved for private teams) and hybrids (open to private and works teams), the former will be called LM P1-L (Le Mans Prototype 1 – Light) and the latter LM P1 - H (Le Mans Prototype 1 – Hybrid).
    
• In 2014, a mechanism will be implemented to control the fuel consumption of the LM P1s. A quantity, usable per lap in all cases, will be defined on the base of the Le Mans 24-Hours circuit depending on the engine used. Fuel consumption will be calculated in permanence on an average of three laps. If it exceeds the quantity allocated, sanctions will be applied, the system of which is currently under study.
    
• LM P2: a reminder: on Friday, September 20, a joint decision was taken by the ACO and IMSA in Austin (Texas) that the category would remain unchanged until the end of the 2016 season. The regulatory authority is working on reducing the number of tyres used per race in 2014.

LM GTE Categories

• Technical discussions are advancing quickly concerning the creation of a new GT category in 2016. The principles of a convergence between the current LM GTEs and the FIA GT3s was agreed by the ACO and the FIA and validated by the different GT manufacturers. The aim is to present the new technical regulations, which will govern the future GT categories (provisionally called GT and GT+), at the FIA World Motor Sport Council in June 2014 for implementation in the 2016 season.
    
• In order to reduce running costs, the cars in the LM GTE Am category will all be supplied by a single tyre manufacturer next season. A tender will be put out in the near future.


The next meeting of the FIA Endurance Commission will take place on October 24, and that of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on December 4.

NHRA world championship crew chief Lee Beard told Competition Plus Sunday he has retired from the sport.

“I have officially retired from NHRA drag racing,” Beard said in a text. “There will be a press release coming shortly of my future.”

Beard joined Steve Torrence’s Top Fuel team May 10, and he had some highlights with the team, but Torrence failed to qualify for the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania, this weekend.

In Beard’s fourth race racing tuning Torrence’s dragster, he helped the team reach the winners circle. Torrence beat Spencer Massey in the finals at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.

Beard has amassed 55 national event wins with 12 different drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Beard tuned the late Gary Ormsby to a Top Fuel title in 1989. In 1992 he won a world championship as team manager when Cruz Pedregon captured the nitro Funny Car title. He also was the team manager at Don Schumacher Racing when Tony Schumacher was the Top Fuel champ in 2009.

Back in January, Beard signed on to serve as the director of operations for Rapisarda Autosport International led by Australian crane mogul Santo Rapisarda and his sons, Santo Jr. and Santino. The Rapisarda team with driver Larry Dixon was competing on a limited NHRA schedule and Beard departed the team May 8.

Beard, who grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, has been involved in NHRA drag racing since the early 1970s. He is 1971 graduate of Pueblo Central High School and got his start in the sport from former Pueblo school teacher and drag racer Ed Renck.
 

Racing is officially back at the International Hot Rod Association.
 
After getting away from traditional racing and exploring a more entertainment-based program over the past three years under Feld Motor Sports, the IHRA announced that it will be combining the best of both worlds with the return of traditional elimination-style racing in its professional classes while still maintaining a family-friendly format.
 
IHRA’s top tier series that has been branded as Nitro Jam, will be rebranded as the IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series and will feature a new logo incorporating the excitement of the new series plus new event logos for each of the NJDRS national events held in 2014. All events on the expanded 2014 North American Tour schedule will once again be branded as Nationals and will feature the addition of traditional qualifying and eliminations in its professional classes as well as a points chase and a championship points fund.
 
Under the guidance of the new ownership group IRG Sports + Entertainment and its President & CEO Jason Rittenberry, the IHRA will be implementing its new, traditional drag racing format beginning in 2014. The series will feature professional drag racing in select classes at events held throughout the United States and Canada, plus a number of exciting new elements that will make the IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series a major draw in each market.
 
“Acquiring the IHRA after the 2013 season had already began allowed us the opportunity to evaluate the Nitro Jam events this season before and see what elements we wanted to change and what was working for the series,” said Rittenberry. “This redesign of the brand is the first step in bringing more traditional professional racing back to the IHRA.We are excited to announce all of the plans for the 2014 tour next week at our World Finals in Memphis.”
 
Through it all, the IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series will maintain its reputation as an affordable and excitement-filled motorsport spectacle for both families and drag racing fans alike.
 
“This is just a matter of listening to the customer. The Nitro Jam format was successful as evidenced by our growth since its debut three years ago. Our fans loved the show, but wanted to see more professional racing,” said Aaron Polburn, President of IHRA Motorsports. “What the end result turned out to be was a hybrid of Nitro Jam and traditional IHRA professional racing plus a greatly expanded pit experience. Add in value and I think the end product will be extremely fun to watch.”
 
A full lineup of classes and the complete IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series 2014 Tour schedule will be announced at the Summit Racing Equipment World Finals at Memphis International Raceway on Friday, October 12.
 

The motorsports industry said goodbye to one of its greats last night as John Menzler, Sales Leader at COMP Performance Group, passed away following his battle with cancer.

Among his industry accolades, Menzler, 67, was named the 2011 SEMA Person of the Year for his distinguished service to the trade association and the specialty-equipment industry.

Menzler was actively involved in SEMA’s HRIA and ARMO councils. He also served on the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Select Committee from the council’s inception in 1995 until June 2010. He chaired the council from 2004–2006 and, when his tenure as immediate past chair/advisor was over in 2006, he immediately ran and was re-elected to the Select Committee.

He was the only recipient of the MPMC Industry Recognition Award, presented to him in 2000, and he was inducted into the MPMC Hall of Fame in 2010. Menzler also owns a SEMA-member company called Inventive Marketing/MotoFeet.

"Menzler cared about the industry and channeled that into action that made a positive difference," said SEMA President & CEO Chris Kersting. "He was a spirited, funny, and enormously dedicated guy who will be deeply missed."

Drivers from various racing backgrounds will come together on October 26 to compete in The Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am Karting Challenge at New Castle Motorsports Park.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, a cause Wheldon fought to raise awareness for after his mother was diagnosed with the illness in 2008.

“The Alzheimer’s Ass’n and its Greater Indiana Chapter are honored to be the recipients of proceeds raised through The Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am Karting Challenge,” said Heather Hershberger, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter. “It’s a fitting tribute as Dan was a great champion of our work and took great interest in the programs for individuals in the early-stages of the disease. While saddened that Alzheimer’s has personally touched his family, we are inspired by this generous and moving tribute.”

The challenge will consist of 12 corporate sponsored teams in a timed 2-hour race beginning at 12:30 p.m. Each team will have one pro driver paired with three amateurs. Gates open at 7 a.m. and admission is free. The pro drivers will also take part in an autograph session before the start of the race.

“I’m thrilled to be taking part in this race,” said James Hinchcliffe, who will be driving for the Firestone-sponsored team. “It’s such a cool way to do it, by combining two of Dan’s passions, karting and Alzheimer’s awareness. I’m honored to get to participate.”

The challenge will be part of the RoboPong race weekend, an endurance event Wheldon loved to compete in during the off-season. In fact, Wheldon was often seen in the go-kart paddock competing in various races during his downtime from the IndyCar Series.

“An event like this is just great because we’re continuing to carry the flame of something he started,” said Alex Tagliani, who will be the pro driver for the IMS-sponsored team. “And it’s karting. I definitely had the chance to spend some time karting at the Florida Winter Tour with him. I know it was a location where we hang out in the winter to have fun away from the serious business and so karting always makes me remember him and this even more. I’m so glad to take part in it.”

Drivers and sponsors were quick to sign up for the race when asked to participate by Wheldon’s widow Susie, including three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti, who was also a teammate of Wheldon during the start of his IndyCar career.

“I’m really looking forward to competing in the race,” said Franchitti who will be driving for Big Machine Records. “It’ll be fun to get back in a kart for the first time in a long time and most importantly to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s, something which Dan was so passionate about.”
Franchitti’s teammate Scott Dixon, also a former teammate of Wheldon, will be driving for Target in the event.

“I’m very excited to be a part of The Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am Karting Challenge,” said Dixon. “Dan was a much loved friend and teammate. This race will be a great addition to Dan’s lasting legacy and helping the Alzheimer’s Association, an organization Dan was very passionate about. The cross between regular top tier drivers, up and comers, and racing enthusiasts is going to make for quite the race! I hope everyone comes out to support.”

Three drivers from Schmidt Peterson Motorsports will take part in the race, including Simon Pagenaud, Tristan Vautier and Sage Karam.

“Dan was a tremendous driver and a good friend to many of us,” said Pagenaud, who will drive for Bowers & Wilkins. “It’s important for us to show that IndyCar is a close family, and this event is our way of showing support to Susie. I’m very happy to be participating.”

Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, was one of IndyCar’s most popular drivers and is remembered not only for his success on the track, but as much for his charismatic personality and devotion to his beloved fans, as well as the up and coming drivers in the Series.

“When Michael Fux (Comfort Revolution) decided to sponsor a team in the event and asked me to drive, I became filled with emotion,” said Indy Lights driver Karam. “Dan was one of the drivers that always made time to talk to the young guys like me on race weekends. He left quite a positive impression on me and I am honored to be a participant in this event.”

Ed Carpenter, Martin Plowman, Josef Newgarden-Honda, Jay Howard-Bell Helmets, and Bryan Herta-William Rast/Global Rallycross round out the 12 teams entered in the race.

This is the first event that Wheldon has officially organized and hosted in her late husband’s name, following his passing at the Las Vegas season finale in 2011.

“I feel so blessed to have had such an overwhelming response from people wanting to contribute,” said Wheldon, who will be attending the event with her two small children Sebastian and Oliver, as well as their father’s family from England. “The outpouring of support goes to show what kind of person Dan was and how he affected those he met. I couldn’t be more proud. Being able to carry on his legacy with an event like this, benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association, is something very special.”

A piece of racing memorabilia from Wheldon’s personal collection will also be auctioned off at the event, by way of silent auction.

Each winning team member will receive a 221 Rose Gold watch, with special engraving, from Ritmo Mundo and a room package compliments of the Conrad Indianapolis.

Rally America officials are proud to release the eight-round Rally America National Championship calendar for the 2014 season, and continue the tradition of bringing the nation’s best rally talent to the nation’s best rally racing events.

Rally America returns to all of last year’s seven rally events for 2014 and, for the second consecutive year, will extend the championship season with an additional Rally America National Invitational event to be announced at a later date.

The championship increased from six to seven rounds in 2013, and will become an eight-round championship in 2014.

The championship begins with the winter favorite Sno*Drift Rally Jan. 24-25 in Atlanta, Michigan. The Ojibwe Forests Rally and the Lake Superior Performance Rally will mark their second year as a national championship round after operating as regional events from 2010–2012.

“I am pleased to have all the 2013 events returning as part of the Rally America National Championship in 2014,” said Bill Fogg Sr., Rally America CEO. “We’re also excited to announce the first Rally America National Invitational to be the eighth round of this year’s series.”

2014 Rally America Schedule:

Jan 24-25 Atlanta, Michiagn

Feb. 21-22 Salem, Missouri

May 2-4 Portland, Oregon

June 6-7 Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

June 29 TBA

July 18-19 Newry, Maine

Aug. 22-23 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Oct. 18-19 Houghton, Michigan

The 2014 SCCA US Majors Tour schedule, along with a common format across each and every event, was announced by the Sports Car Club of America. The Mid-States, Northern and Western Conferences will each host six events, with the Eastern Conference hosting seven race weekends.
 
The 2014 season gets underway just after the New Year in the Eastern Conference with the Winter Vacation Majors, visiting Sebring International Raceway, Jan. 3-5, and Palm Beach International Raceway one week later, Jan. 10-12. The Western Conference season follows with its opening round at Auto Club Speedway, Jan. 18-19.
 
Each race weekend on the 2014 calendar will feature a common format. All will be double race weekends, with Saturday's race a 20-minute timed sprint race, and Sunday's race the traditional 45-mile format. Both races will count for full points, and racers will receive trophies and commemorative checkered flags, though the full podium ceremonies will only take place for Sunday's races.
 
Each Sunday will open with a brief warm-up session and then the group races gridded based on the best lap time from the weekend up to that point (qualifying and sprint race), with time for podium ceremonies built into the schedule.
 
“A consistent message we receive is that race groups need to have compatible classes to ensure a quality racing experience,” SCCA Vice President of Club Racing Terry Ozment said. “In order to schedule enough run groups, there simply isn't enough time to run a pair of 45-mile races in a workable weekend timeframe.”
 
Events that traditionally draw more than 150 cars will run a three-day schedule, with smaller attendance events having a two-day option.
 
“With a lot of feedback from members and competitors, we learned a lot during last year's US Majors Tour,” SCCA President/CEO Jeff Dahnert said. “From the season schedule to the weekend format, we've made improvements this season to a program that had already provided the Club Racing with a spark in 2013. The 2014 season will be even better.”
 
As was the case in 2013, the Northern and Mid-States Conferences will begin their respective Championships later in the year.
 
The preliminary schedule for all four Conferences, with some events and dates yet to be determined:
 
Eastern Conference
Jan. 3-5: Sebring International Raceway
Jan. 10-12: Palm Beach International Raceway
March 21-23: Road Atlanta
TBD April: Virginia International Raceway
TBD May/June: New Jersey Motorsports Park
July 4-6: Watkins Glen International
Aug. 1-3: Summit Point Motorsports Park
 
Mid-States Conference
TBD Feb./March: Circuit of the Americas
April 5-6: Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
May 24-25: Pueblo Motorsports Park
July 5-6: High Plains Raceway
Aug. 30-31: Heartland Park Topeka (Conference Finale)
+ One additional event from Southwest Division will be added to the calendar.
 
Northern Conference
May 2-4: Blackhawk Farms
TBD May/June: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
TBD June: Road America, Chicago Region June Sprints
July 12-13: GingerMan Raceway
July 26-27: Road America
Aug. 23-24: Grattan Raceway
 
Western Conference
Jan. 17-19: Auto Club Speedway
TBD March: Inde Motorsports Ranch
April 25-27: Buttonwillow Raceway Park
May 24-25: Pacific Raceway
July 4-6: Portland International Raceway (Conference Finale)
+ One additional event from San Francisco Region will be added to the calendar.
 
More information on the SCCA US Majors Tour is available at www.sccamajors.com, and on the Sports Car Club of America at www.scca.com.

Honda Performance Development, the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is expanding its range of karting products with the introduction of a new Kid Kart engine designed to improve quality, reliability and balanced performance at a low cost to the competitor.

The Honda GXH50, available to racers, retail shops and series through the Honda Racing Line, is an effort by HPD to address issues that have negatively affected the growth of Kid Karting in recent years, and help the entry-level category return to popularity.

“Kid Karting is one of the earliest forms of motorsports available to youth with an interest in racing,” said Marc Sours, senior manager of HPD’s Commercial Division. “One of the goals of the Honda Racing Line is to support these novice racers. Through our Kid Kart engine program, we hope to make it easier for these young racers and their families to discover the fun of our sport.”

Originally intended as a way for families and their children—typically between five and seven years old—to gain an introduction to karting, the Kid Kart class in recent seasons has been negatively impacted by high engine costs and a lack of control over the current engine platform.

Following requests from the marketplace, HPD offers the Honda GXH50, and subsequent HPD installation kit, as a replacement engine for the Kid Kart class. With the new engine package, HPD seeks to assist sanctioning bodies and participants in rebuilding the category, lowering operating costs while bringing traditional Honda reliability and quality to Kid Karting.

The GXH50 Kid Kart engine will come factory-sealed from HPD to eliminate “blueprinting” of the engine. HPD’s support will include a rules package designed to maintain the integrity of the program. Engines will not be re-sealable, and will come with an HPD-spec clutch, engine mount, chain guard and hardware.

Engine life is expected to be well in excess of 200 hours, and the HPD GXH50 is intended to provide both lower maintenance costs and better engine parity than other currently available engines. Retail price of a complete GXH50 will be $829, and both race shop and series inquiries are welcome. Through the Honda Racing Line, karters and other racers can arrange direct, door-to-door delivery of parts and complete engines.

To join the Honda Racing Line, a racer must simply provide proof of current membership in a nationally-recognized sanctioning body; provide official race results from at least two events in the past year; complete and submit the registration form; and be a resident of the US or Canada.

Founded in 1993, Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines, and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California. HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases “fun” products for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Launched in 2009, the Honda Racing Line is a program targeted at licensed participants in sanctioned amateur and entry-level professional racing. The Honda Racing Line was formed to provide its members with a direct connection to Honda Performance Development and its unparalleled record of success at the highest levels of motorsport.

While the property that houses Irwindale Events Center has changed hands, activities at the oval track and drag strip are expected to continue as planned next season.

The property formerly owned by NuWay Industries has been sold to Lindom Properties for a reported $22 million.

“Our property lease/contract for the 2014 event season has been transferred with the sale and we are very much looking forward to full facility operations and a great 2014 here at IEC,” said Irwindale Events Center President Jim Cohan in a statement.

“We’d like to go on record thanking our former landlords at NuWay Industries, Jim Mnoian and Jay Garrett, for the professional way that the negotiations were carried out.

“Our lease with NuWay was negotiated on an annual basis so there were no surprises for our side when the arrangement was announced. We look forward to working with our new landlords to everyone’s very best advantage.”

Dyno Dom’s Sikeston Raceway will become an NHRA member track in 2014. The Sikeston, Missouri, facility will be part of the NHRA North Central Division, bringing the division’s total track roster to 26.

“It is a pleasure to have Dyno Dom’s Sikeston Raceway come onboard as part of the NHRA member-track network,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA vice president-racing administration. “We’re excited to have an NHRA track located in Missouri for both the NHRA and the NHRA racers in the region.”

The family-run raceway, originally opened in 1969, was purchased last year by Dominic and Teri Blasco and renamed Dyno Dom’s Sikeston Raceway. It features an all-concrete eighth-mile dragstrip with concrete guardwalls the length of the track and a recently sealed pit parking area. The facility is between St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee, off Interstate 55.

The NHRA sanction is the first of any kind for the facility that will host the 2014 NHRA Missouri State Championship as well as the National Dragster Challenge, Summit Racing NHRA King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge programs. Additionally, the track will have the opportunity to run the NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, and NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA.